CHENNAI/SALEM: Nearly 20 lakh goods carriers are expected to go off roads in the southern States from Thursday following a call for an indefinite strike by the South India Motor Transport Association (SIMTA).
Although the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways agreed to favourably consider the main demands of the truck operators that included a roll back of the revision made in the third party insurance premium and withdrawal of 15-year-old vehicles, the association said it would go ahead with the stir.
“Certain demands are related to the State governments. So, we are going ahead with the strike as announced,” GR Shanmugappa, general secretary, SIMTA said. He claimed, nearly 20 lakh goods carriers in five states-Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana - and Puducherry would stay away from operations.